Who am I? I am an Artist.

I am an Artist.

That word can have many different connotations, apply to many different fields, from music to science to philosophy to actual paint-and-brush art.  I would like to speak on the latter this evening.

Not necessarily with paint and brushes, no, but with pencil and paper.

Though most of my creative bents involve music or writing, I've always had a soft spot for drawing.  I can admit to still having a few clumsy things I drew in primary school (though they rarely leave their box), though my first real interest in drawing started in the fourth grade when I transferred schools.

It was a small, faith-based private school, and to be honest, they didn't have much for faculty.  With few (very few) exceptions, the homeroom teacher taught every single class.  And while Mr Johnson was a heck of a choir teacher, he really was not much of an artist.  One week, though, I can't recall if he was out sick or if the administration just wanted a change in pace, we had a substitute come in and teach art (and maybe another class, English, I think).  She was young, bright, just married, and very creative.  She drew these quirky little characters reminiscent of a cartoon alien, and she used bright colors and though I'm sure, considering the environment we were in, she was very conservative, but she just seemed so magical and light, and I remember all that week struggling to emulate her style, to draw something so beautiful that she would praise me in front of the class, and I could gain a reputation as a cool artist chick instead of just that weird transfer girl.

Praise was inevitable, of course; I mean, come on, we were in fourth grade, what was she going to do, tell me I sucked?

Because I really did.

But I had so much fun, and whenever I can now, I try to take a little time to draw something, and maybe to improve upon my skills a little.

That picture above?  I drew that my senior year of high school.  A little simple, perhaps, but a big step up from where I started, and though I feel I can do better now, it's still one of my favorite pieces.

And who knows, maybe if I keep getting better, my publishers will let me design my own cover for my books...

Since I am an Artist, after all.